A bright new era for regional tourism
The Middle East’s hospitality sector is currently witnessing a remarkable upsurge, with significant growth and extensive development under way in travel, tourism and hotel construction. This expansion has been propelled by several factors, including ambitious infrastructure projects, strategic investments and a sharpened focus among key players on developing the sector.
FHS announces its first set of confirmed speakers
The Future Hospitality Summit has confirmed the first speakers for the region’s flagship hospitality investment platform taking place from September 25-27 at Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island.
Sustainability defines Middle East’s luxury travel sector
Sustainability is becoming an important consideration within the Middle East’s luxury travel sector, especially in the UAE, where 61 percent of residents are willing to pay a premium for more responsible, eco-friendly and sustainable tourism experiences.
Saudi Arabia unveils its USD 1.5bn railway project
Webuild has signed a contract worth USD 1.5 billion to design and construct 57 km of a high-speed railway in NEOM, along the northern Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia.
Saudi Arabia’s positive investment market outlook
The ambitious goals outlined in Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 strategy are supported by more than USD 1 trillion worth of real estate and infrastructural developments, including 315,000 hotel keys. In the next four to five years, the number of hotel keys is likely to almost double to around 200,000, with at least half of the proposed supply becoming operational by 2028 and some existing properties leaving the market to make room for new, more desirable and competitive hotels and resorts.
Behind GRIF KSA with Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, The Bench’s managing director of the Middle East
We sat with Jennifer Pettinger-Haines, The Bench’s managing director of the Middle East to get the lowdown GRIF.
Destination Diriyah with Group CEO Jerry Inzerillo
With over five decades of experience working at the world’s most prominent hotel brands, Jerry Inzerillo, group chief executive officer of Diriyah Company, is responsible for overseeing the development of one of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious projects; Diriyah, the City of Earth. In an exclusive interview with HN, we explore the historic city of Diriyah and its transformation into a world-class cultural and lifestyle destination.
UNWTO celebrates its 48th session and reveals the date of its 49th session
UNWTO has successfully celebrated the 48th session of its Regional Commission for the Middle East. Returning to Egypt for the third time since 2018, the commission addressed the pressing challenges faced by tourism and looked to the future as the sector’s recovery gathers pace across the region.
Qatar simplifies its tourist visa procedures with revamped Hayya Platform
Qatar Tourism has revamped its Hayya Platform, inviting tourists who currently need a visa to Qatar to enjoy the country’s famously warm Arabian hospitality and diverse touristic offering.
Four Saudi cities rank high on the IMD Smart City Index 2023
Riyadh has maintained its position as the third Arab city in the IMD Smart City Index (SCI) 2023, which saw the Saudi cities of Makkah, Jeddah, and Madinah included in the observatory for the first time, ranking 4th, 5th and 7th respectively.
